At a time when the
administration is being sued by Dolan and the Catholic Bishop’s Conference over
the Obama health care provision on birth control, the meeting was seen as an
attempt to create a new dialogue.

An Irish
American Catholic, Biden receiving communion was also seen as significant.
Dolan’s predecessor Cardinal Edward Egan refused to give communion to those who
differed with the church on the abortion issue.

Biden says he is
pro-life but will not seek to impose his views on others.

Biden met with
Cardinal Dolan after the mass for coffee but what they discussed was not made
public.